September 2014
Letter have now started to be sent out to residents to ask if you want to sign up for the Labour Garden Tax so you can keep the right to get your garden waste collection.
Almost everyone thinks this is a bad idea, although a few lone voices have suggested they support it.
I stick by my views below that this is just another Labour tax and will have negative knock on effects.
August 2014
The Council still plans to start charging for garden waste collections from April next year. We don’t think this is a good idea and believe that savings could be found elsewhere to avoid bringing in this charge which will take over a million pounds out of the local economy and add a further £20-£25 a year to residents bills.
It will also mean that in some areas, where residents simply can’t afford to pay, gardens may not be tended to as often. There is likely to be an increase in flytipping, and extra car miles as people opt to drive to the local tip with their garden waste.
September 2013
Enter your postcode into ‘My Durham’ in the top left of the council website at www.durham.gov.uk to find out collection dates for your property for garden waste, recycling and general waste.
If you don’t have a garden waste bin but have garden waste you want removing and can’t take it to one of the councils tips, call the council and they can arrange to pick up a maximum of six bags of garden waste from you. Alternatively you may be interested in getting a compost bin.
The council has an offer which can be seen at: http://www.getcomposting.com/ Just scroll down the page and enter your postcode. One bin is £16.98 and you can get another half price. Perhaps ask the neighbours if you only need one each. The council composting guide can be viewed here: http://content.durham.gov.uk/PDFRepository/Homecompostinginformationleafletupdate.pdf
March 2013 Update
Garden Waste collections restart this week. I have asked about numerous areas being added to the program but the council says it doesn’t have the resources to do this at the moment.
If you don’t get a garden waste collection at the moment, please remember that you can call the council to ask for up to 6 bags of garden waste to be collected each month for free.
Update January 2012
Answers to questions on the new waste and recycling scheme:
FAQ: Changes to recycling and rubbish collections
What is happening to rubbish and recycling collections?
We are introducing a new recycling and rubbish collection service for County Durham. Our bin crews will continue to collect waste from your property every week, but the type of waste they take away switches between rubbish and recycling.
In other words, your rubbish will be collected one week and your recycling the next, then it’s back to rubbish, then recycling and so on. This system has been in place in Derwentside since 2006.
Will my bins and containers change?
Yes. Plastic, paper, card, cartons, food tins and drinks cans are stored in your recycling bin with the blue lid.
Residents in the Derwentside area already have one of these bins, residents in the rest of the county will receive a new recycling bin between February and May, depending on where you live.
You should use your usual recycling box to store glass bottles and jars.
You should continue to use your usual rubbish bin for non-recyclable waste.
How often will my bins be emptied?
Our bin crews will continue to visit your property every week.
One week your recycling bin and box will be emptied, the next your rubbish bin will be emptied. Collections continue on this alternate weekly basis.
How will I know which bin to put out on which week?
When your new bin is delivered there will be a sticker on it telling you your collection day and start date.
You will get a collection calendar through your door which will also tell you your collection day and start date, as well as a reminder about which items you can put in your recycling bin and box.
Derwentside residents will also receive a bin sticker and collection calendar,
Enter your postcode into ‘My Durham’ online at www.durham.gov.uk to find out collection arrangements for your property.
Why are you changing things?
Changes to the service will help save more than one million pounds a year, as well as encouraging increased levels of recycling. Around 40% of the rubbish produced from households in County Durham is recycled; with the majority of the remainder going to a landfill site, which means it is buried in the ground. Much of this ‘rubbish’ can actually be recycled.
The cost of disposing of household waste in landfill is increasing every year (more that £100/tonne next year), so it is important that the council operates its waste collection service more efficiently whilst providing a quality service.
Will my collection day change?
It may do, as we have been working to make our collection rounds as efficient as possible, which could lead to changes. Before the new collections start, you will get a leaflet through your door and a sticker on your bin telling you what your collection day is. You can also enter your postcode into My Durham on the left of this page to find out what your collection arrangements are.
Will the time of day my bin gets emptied stay the same?
Not necessarily. Even if your collection day isn’t changing, the time we empty your bins might. This is because we have reworked the routes our crews drive as part of the changes we are making, so they may not be in your area at the same times as you are used to. The time of day our crews call to collect your rubbish and recycling may vary as they get used to driving the new routes, but it should settle down into a routine after a few weeks. Please factor this in if you think we may have missed collecting your bin, as it may just be that we are going to be collecting in your area at a different time than you are used to.
What can I put in my recycling bin with the blue lid?
- · Plastic bottles including drink, washing up, shampoo, yoghurt pots, butter tubs. Please rinse them out.
- · Paper including magazines, junk mail and brochures.
- · Cardboard including cereal boxes, greetings cards and juice cartons can be squashed or broken up into pieces to maximise space in the bin. Large cardboard boxes should be placed next to the bin for recycling.
- · Steel and aluminium food and drinks cans. Please rinse them out.
Squashing items before putting them in means you will be able to fit more in the bin.
What can I put in my recycling box?
- · Glass bottles and jars
To avoid contamination from food waste or other products, please wash your bottles and jars. Please do not put lids in the recycling box, they can be put in your recycling bin.
Can I put out extra recycling?
Yes, you can put out extra recycling in supermarket carrier bags or clear bags.
What do I do with my old recycling containers?
In some areas your new recycling bin replaces the bags or boxes you are using now. If you have a bag, you can keep it or re-use it, or put it in your recycling bin. Spare recycling boxes can also be re-used for other things by residents, or taken to your Household Waste Recycling Centre.
Will there be public health issues if recycling is collected one week and rubbish the next?
There is no evidence of increased public health risks if this type of scheme is used correctly. Local authorities are increasingly changing to systems similar to the one being introduced in County Durham. 195 out of 354 currently collect waste on an alternate weekly basis. It has been proved to increase recycling rates, with high levels of public satisfaction in the areas that operate this scheme.
What kind of bins do the council provide?
For the majority of residents, we provide each household with:
- 240 litre wheeled bin with either a green or black lid for general rubbish
- 240 litre wheeled bin with a blue lid for recycling paper, cardboard, plastic bottles, plastic food containers, carrier bags, food and drinks cans
- box for recycling glass jars and bottles.
My rubbish bin is smaller than my new recycling bin, why is that?
Before the district and county councils merged in 2009, a whole range of different sized bins were provided. For many County Durham residents, the new recycling bin (with the blue lid) matches the size of their rubbish bin.
However, people living in the Teesdale, Wear Valley areas and parts of Sedgefield have, for many years, been using a rubbish bin that is slightly smaller than residents in other areas of the county, so your new recycling bin will be larger than your rubbish bin.
We hope that with the extra capacity your recycling bin provides, there will be even less waste to put in your rubbish bin. However, please get in touch if you are finding it difficult to manage.
I’m going to be recycling more, which means my rubbish bin will not be as full as it used to be. Could I get a smaller rubbish bin?
We’re hopeful that with residents taking full advantage of the extra capacity provided by the recycling bin and box that your rubbish bin will be more than adequate for your non-recyclable rubbish.
If you find that this is the case, please get in touch with us and we will look into whether it is possible to provide you with a smaller rubbish bin.
What if I am unable to fit all of my waste in my rubbish bin?
Most households will be able to fit all their waste into their rubbish bin if you are recycling as much as possible. If you find that you regularly have excess waste for your rubbish bin please get in touch as we can help you.
- Do not overfill your bin or make it too heavy, as it may not be emptied. Excess household waste can be taken to your local household waste recycling centre.
- If you are putting bags in your bin squeeze all the air out first. This will help to create more space in your bin.
- Try not to squash down the contents of the bin too much as this makes it difficult for our collection vehicles to remove all the contents, and could damage your bin.
- Flatten bulky items down to reduce the space they take up.
Can I get another bin, or a bigger rubbish bin?
Families with more than six permanent residents can apply for an additional rubbish and/or recycling bin, free of charge.
We will assess each request. Contact us for an application form.
Is garden waste included in the new arrangements?
No. Residents who get garden waste collected will receive a calendar before the service starts in spring.
Collections will not necessarily match your rubbish or recycling collection day so please check your garden waste calendar carefully when it arrives.
What can I do to stop my rubbish bin smelling?
- Try composting your fruit and vegetable waste.
- Try to reduce your amount of food waste in your bin, for advice see our love food hate waste campaign.
- Securely double bag and tie up any food waste or nappies
- Make sure that you do not leave any food, including pet food, uncovered inside the house. Flies can lay eggs on this food before it goes in the bin.
- Avoid using supermarket type carrier bags as they tend to have small holes for flies to get in and for waste to leak out.
- Ensure the bin lid is always closed.
- Try to avoid storing the bin in direct sunlight.
- Occasionally rinse out the bin with disinfectant.
Why do I need to separate glass from my other recycling, when it is collected by one vehicle?
It’s important that the glass does not splinter and mix with the other items.
The recycling lorries are ‘split’ vehicles with two separate compartments, one for glass and another for mixed items collected in your recycling bin (paper, cardboard, plastic bottles and food containers, food and drinks cans). So, whilst you will see all your recycling going into one vehicle, it is going into separate sections.
What if I have items which are too big or heavy for the bin?
We offer bulky waste collections (charges apply). Alternatively, waste can be taken to the household waste recycling centres or you could contact a local furniture reuse charity
What happens if I forget to put my box, or bins out for collection?
You will need to wait until your next collection. Alternatively you could take your recyclables to one of our mini recycling sites (bring banks) or one of our household waste recycling centres.
Why has my wheeled bin not been emptied?
Before contacting us to report a missed collection, please ensure:
- the correct bin was put out for collection
- the bin was at the kerbside or the designated collection point for 7am
- the bin was not too heavy to be lifted by the collection crew
- the correct items were in the bin
- the bin was not overloaded.
If you did put the correct bin out, it wasn’t overloaded and was on the kerbside for 7am, please contact us and we will arrange for your bin to be collected by the end of the next working day.
I currently receive an assisted collection. Will this change?
No, residents who qualify for the assisted collection service will receive the service, which will continue.
My property is not suitable for storing a wheeled bin or has restricted access. What can I do?
There will be some households who are unable to use wheeled bins, such as
- Terraced properties with restricted access for vehicles
- Properties with access on a very steep narrow bank or with many steps.
Properties like these will have different rubbish and recycling collection arrangements and residents will be notified if this is the case.
I live in a flat with communal refuse and recycling bins. Will my collections change?
Yes, your collections will change so that your recycling is collected one week, and your refuse is collected the next, but you will still use the bins provided.
What happens to my recycling materials when they have been collected?
Last year we collected more than 8,000 tonnes of glass, 18,700 tonnes of paper/card, 2,000 tonnes of tins/cans and 1,700 tonnes of plastic from County Durham homes. Currently your recycling is delivered to one of three local companies for sorting before it is sent for reprocessing into new products. The re-processors are mostly within the UK but some materials such as plastic for example can get exported over seas for use in the world wide market.
- Glass bottles and jars are turned into new glass items or may be used in new road surfacing or sand
- Paper and card is pulped and made into recycled paper and card products or loft insulation
- Tins and cans are melted down and used to make new aluminium and steel items including car engines and aircraft
- Plastic is ground down and then used in the production of new plastic items such as garden furniture, window frames and even clothing such as fleeces.
Update 4 – July 2011 – Don’t forget that you can ask for upto six bags of garden waste to be collected if you don’t have a garden waste bin. The number of the council website at the moment is 0191 301 8669. There are not any plans at present to roll out the bins to more houses, but if your neighbours have a bin you may be able to get one by calling the same number. the council has increased its charges for Compost Bins but they are still cheaper than from the shops and can be ordered here: http://www.durham.getcomposting.com/
Update 3 – August 2010 – The council has decided that the areas I asked for in July will not be included because they don’t have the resources. This isn’t accpetable, however, if you contact the council they will collect upto 6 bags of garden waste a month if you don’t live in a hoouse which has a garden waste bin – not prefect but a solution for now. Call 0191 383 3000, press option 2 and ask for garden waste collection.
UPDATE 2 – July 2010 – I have asked for Front St, Pity Me and the Terraces to the rear of Front St Framwellgate Moor to be considered for garden waste bins and will update if this is successful.
UPDATE: 1 – MArch 2010 If your house is on the map to be included and you haven’t received a bin please call us.
UPDATE 0 – Brasside has been added to the run.
NEW GREEN WASTE COLLECTIONS
The District and County councils have been working on rolling out green waste collections. Councillors were asked their views last month and after viewing the proposals for Framwellgate Moor division I requested a considerable increase in the number of houses receiving the service in our area.
At present around 60,000 homes have green waste collections across the County. An additonal 67,000 are to be added, leaving around 50,000 without the service. Many parts of our area were not to be included in the roll out, however after discussions between myself and officers I can now confirm that hundreds more homes will be added to the round in our area including Taylor, Cook, Ritson and Kingston Avenues and all the streets running off Newton Drive in Framwellgate Moor.
I asked for maps of the areas which will receive the new service and these can be seen below:
I will continue to push for further expansion within our area.
Anyone who does not want to join up to the service can ask to opt out.